Protector for cigars.



No. 823,014. f PATENTBD JUNE 12, 1906.

' 1f. H. WHoMBs.-

PROTBGTOR POR GIGARS.

APPLIOATIDN FILED 11110.31. 1902.

` UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFIoE.

FRANCIS II'. WHoMES, 0F Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

' i I PRoTEoTon Fos CIG/ms.

Specification of Letters Iatent;

Patented June 12, 1906.

Application iiledpDeoember 31, 1902. Serial No. 137,302.

. also acting as a protector or guard to prevent the chipping oli` ofthe end of the' cigarland unrolling the wrapper, which is frequentlycaused when the cigars are carried loosely in the pocket.

Referring to the drawings, Figure I isa view of a cigar which isrolledwith a blunt or square end and which is provided with theprotector. Fig. II is a view of a cigar of the Perfecto or small-endtype which is provided with the rotector. Fig. III is a perspective views owing one form of the cap or protector. Fig. IV is a pers ective viewof another form of protector. Flig. Vis a perspective view of stillanother form of protector with a portion of the cigar shown In dottedlines.v

' dered waterproo The invention comprises a cap or thimble which maydesirably be constructed of a thin, light, and impervioussubstance-such, for instance, as rubber. The cap might be e011-,

.structed of oiledfpaper or other material renn by some approved rocess.

Where the cap is made of rubber or ot er elastic material, asillustrated in Figs. I and III,

in, which 1 designates the body.ofthe cap, the upper rim of the capshould preferably have a selvage 2. This selvage may besimply a slightridge formed by doubling over the edge of the material and then pressinThe cap being formed of flexible materia is ada ted to conform closelyto slight inequalities oi the surface of thecigar, as-at the led eofalayen y This elastic band may beconstituted by av when pressedagainst it by an e astic band, so that air is not apt to enter under theband.

selvage of a cap of flexible 'and elastic mate- `rial turned over onitself, as indicated in Fig.

III, or 1t may be constituted by a se arate ban'd of elastic material,as indicated in ig.-V. The rubber composing the cap may be very thinandv light in weight, so that the cost of the same will be extremelysmall.

In use the cap may be slipped over the tip of the clgar and placed inposition, as shown in Fig. I, the elasticity of the cap causing it toclosely hug the end of the cigar sufficiently to prevent it fromaccidentally beine removed. .The selvage serves to reinforce the edge ofthe cap and gives the cap greater strength and elasticity at that pointand also serves to prevent the cap from splitting or tearing. It alsoaords a slight ridge, which facilitates the removal of the cap whendesired by the smoker.- Y

It is well known that cigars rolledvwith blunt tip are constructed atmuch less eX- ense than cigars which are rolled as Per- Iectos, orcigars having small ends, as the rolling of these require an experthand, and

` one of the main reasons for rolling cigars of the Perfecto style isthat when cigars are rolled, as shown in Fig. I, of the blunt tip, themoisture is allowed to evaporate, whereas the Perfecto cigar has such asmall tip that the evaporation 4is not sogreat as in the cigar wit theblunt tip. It is obvious that by the use of the protectorfwhich formsthe Subj ectmatter of the present invention, the cigars may be rolledwith the blunt tip, as shown in Fig. I, and the evaporation prevented.

-In Fig. IV is shown another way of constructing the cap in which theform of the cap may be that of a truncated cone. This cap may, ifdesired, be constructed of ordinary' paper, or it may be constructed ofrubber or oiled paper or paper waterproofed by any approved means or, infact, of any desirable Inaterial. This cap may be used on Perfectos. Theadvantage of making the cap conical is that when the material used inthe construction of the cap is of paper or stiff material the conicalsha e of the cap will allow it to be pressed on tIie conical tip ofthecigar, so as to tightly Wedge it on.

Fig. V illustrates another form of construction of the cap, in which 1designates the cap The character o the advertising matter on the tip maybe analogous to that placed on the palper bands which are socommonlyused asgir cigars at the present time.

The cap may be provided with various embossed or lithographed desi sapplied with various colors, &c., so that t IOO es around the centerportion of many IIO e cap when it is this.

- of moisture in place on the tip of the cigar will present a veryhandsome appearance.

It is obvious'that the tips being constructed of such inexpensivematerial they are ,not Vdesigned necessarily to be used more than once,and the smoker will strip off the cap and throw it away. Byreason of thecap covering the end of the cigar the natural moisture of the cigar willbe retained, and thus such caution need not be used in han@ dling thecigars as at resent required in providing moisture-prooFcases in whichSponges and water, &c., are kept to keep the cigars moist and in theemployment of tin-foil wrappers around the cigars, &c. It is well knownthat the'tip of the ci that is most often injured an that it easily chis and breaks and the wrapper is often accidentally unrolled or loosenedowing to cracking or chipping of the leaf at the tip. The cap forms aperfect protection againstl I am aware that cigars have been rotectedagainst smashing or being crushe by rigid caps of metal or sufficientlythick celluloid or built-up paper material and that such caps may to aslight extent prevent evaporation from the cigar 5 but it is -well knownthat cigars keep their flavor much bettervwhen the air is excluded fromthem, especially at the open tip, and so far as known the best methodnow in use is the tin-foil wrapping; but my cap being of very thin,elastic, and flexible material when placed over tlie open end of thecigar hu s part tightly like a skin, so 'iat air is absolutelyy excludedfrom the end and the moisture in the cigar cannot escape.

I am also aware thatV cigars have been painted on their ends to retainmoisture; but such expedientis a process treatmentin the manufacture ofthe cigar, is a permanent part of the cigar, and is not obviously hereinclaimed by me, as my invention comprehends an article of manufacturewhich isa cap adapted to be put on or taken of a cigar at pleasure, oneof its distinguishing features being that it may be removed by thesmoker just prior to lighting `his cigar, and after the cigar has beenpartially smoked and the ar is the part every covered cigar, the sameCalifornia, this ashes knocked off the cap may be replaced toI cover theburned end, yso that the cigar may be carried in the pocket untilthejsmoker again wishes to light up. This cap being very elasticaccommodates' itself to the increased size of the burned end1 and. toall irregularities in shape and not only theburned end from soiling thepoc et, but also b thoroughly covering and tightly litting tfie endprevents the nauseating odor from being smelled or from permeating theclothes.v Q, A

Having described my invention, what I claim, `and desire to securebyLetters Patent of the United States, is'- 1. The'combination with aciglar of a re/ movable cap covering the end t e'ieof, said ca beingcup-shaped lig t, thin, elastic, impervious material.

2. The combination with a ci ar ofv a cupshaped ca covering the end treof composed of t 'n rubber, said cap hugging the end of the cigar likea skin but being easily removable when it is desired to light the end ofthe cigar.

' 3. The combination with a ci ar of a rerevents y and composed of a.

movable cap covering the end t ereof, said I capq beingl cup-shaped andcomposed of a lig t, thin, elastic, impervious material,

rim of the cap having an externalselvage to strengthen the edge andprevent splitting of the material and a so affording means which mayreadily be caught bythe fingers in iemoving the cap. 'l i 4. A protectorfor cigars provided with a cap anda thin, elastic rubber band to' it thebeing very elastic to accommodate itself to the increased size of theburned end and t'o allthe irregularities inshape.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, inthev presence of two subscribing witnesses, at the county of Los Angelesand State of 24th day of December, 1902.

.' FRANCIS H. WHOMES.

, Witnesses: v GEORGE T. HACKLEY, g FREDERICK S. LYON.

the

Los Angeles, in

